Actinidia deliciosa in vitro II. Growth and exogenous carbohydrates utilization by explants

Abstract

Changes in sugar composition (sucrose, glucose and fructose) of medium, callus, stem and leaves of in vitro proliferating explants of Actinidia deliciosa C.F. Liang, ‘Hayward’ were analyzed together with explant growth at 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of culturing. Autoclaving hydrolyzes a small part of the initial sucrose of the medium into glucose and fructose. In presence of Actinidia explants the initial sucrose decreased to 32% after 15 days of culturing, to 4% after 30 days and to 0.08% at the end of the culture period (60 days). Sucrose increase in the explants did not parallel with its decrease in the medium. Sucrose presence in the explants was evident only during the last month of culturing. After 15 days of culturing a large increase of glucose and fructose was found in the medium but it did not equal the hydrolyzed sucrose. The level of these two monosaccharides remained stable in the medium until the 30th day, then significantly decreased in the second month of culture; neither were completely exhausted at the end of the culture. In the whole explant the highest amount of glucose and fructose was reached after 30 days of culturing.

The balance of the three sugars in the medium-explant system, as % distribution of carbon atoms, showed a utilization throughout the whole culture period.

Qualitative analyses performed on medium, callus and leaves at 0, 15, and 30 days of culturing revealed the presence of glucose and fructose only and no significant amounts of other hexoses or pentoses. Starch accumulation in the leaves was also observed throughout the culturing.